Couture Fashion Week Wraps Up Latest Edition at New York’s Famed Waldorf-Astoria

[fashion man]

Couture Fashion Week Wraps Up Latest Edition at
New York’s Famed Waldorf-Astoria

All the theater and drama of couture fashion was
present at Couture Fashion Week New York in February 2009. The three-
day spectacle was a parade of glamorous evening wear as well as
innovative couture and luxury wear. The moods of the shows ran the
gamut from theatrical to sensual, from whimsical to classic, from
traditional to futuristic. Wall to wall enthusiastic audiences of top
socialites, diplomats and editors from around the world flocked to the
perennially elegant Waldorf-Astoria February 13-15, 2009 to enjoy
couture and luxury fashion collections on the runway by designers from
Lebanon, Russia, Romania, Dominican Republic, India, Australia, Egypt,
Korea, Turkey, Japan and the USA. Performances by world class
entertainers including cellist Gjilberta Gelaj, singer Lara Janine,
the NTDTV Lion Dance Troupe, singer Najibah, Chinese zither artist
Xianzi Ai and Chinese pipa artist April Zhu also enchanted attendees.

Launched in 2003, Couture Fashion Week has grown
into a prestigious event recognized worldwide for its success in
presenting stunning couture fashion shows in such upscale venues as
the St. Regis, The Westin Times Square and the Waldorf-Astoria. Event
founder and producer Andres Aquino (also an accomplished fashion
designer in his own right) along with a talented team of top makeup
and hair stylists, models and staff continue to make Couture Fashion
Week “the” place to see and be seen during New York Fashion Week.

“The days are cold, the models are hot, and, most
importantly, the clothes are rocking this season. Couture Fashion Week
in New York City arrived at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel’s Starlight Roof
last week.” - T7live.com

Leading couture designer Dany Atrache, who held
his first runway show in Beirut and has shown at the Paris haute
couture season for several years, mesmerized the discerning audience
with a breathtaking collection of exclusive designs made especially
for his USA debut at Couture Fashion Week New York.
“Atrache’s mix of chic elegance with comfort, form
and fit has his designs sitting on the lips of many this season. He’s
a designer who sees beauty in unexpected places and this translates to
his gowns … The confidence of the gown as it delicately draped the
models made me think of how much fun a bride in that dress would have
on her special night.” - woai.com

Catalin Botezatu returned to Couture Fashion Week
with a theatrical fashion show that drew celebrities and well-known
international personalities including opera star Angela Gheorghiu and
Olympic gold medalist Nadia Comaneci.
“Romanian designer Catalin Botezatu's collection
was focused on luxury. Everything about his show was over the top -
from the make up the models wore - a white canvas with theatrical eye
shadow and lipstick, to the hats, which were representative of pieces
of art.” - diaryofalabellover.typepad.com

“Egyptian designer Soucha rocked his FW09
presentation, softening his usually goth-romantic inspired collection
by interweaving it bold jewel tones - coral, turquoise... and emerald
green. Emphasis was placed on the different silhouettes - from the
fluid and figure hugging mermaid silhouette, to empire waist, to the
Grecian column.” - diaryofalabellover.typepad.com

A number of other great designers were introduced
to the fashion savvy crowd including Orlando, Florida-based design duo
Vocce Couture, Korean accessories label Bloom Boom Boom and Dominican
designer Jorge Diep who presented a well ornamented collection that
combined beautiful colors and sex appeal. Mr. Diep has dressed many
Latin beauty queens and celebrities. “I was very pleased to present
Jorge Diep - he comes from a country with a great tradition of
fabulous international designers,” said producer Andres Aquino.

“Australian designer Linda Ellis presented her
couture collection on Saturday, February 14. It was definitely a show
for lovers. Romance was infused in the room and throughout her
designs. The vibe at the show was elegant chic with a toss of downtown
cool. The crowd was completely diverse and included budding
fashionistas, the men who adore them and seasoned fashion veterans.
The show began with a performance by cellist Gjilberta Gelaj, which
was an exquisite touch to the collection.”
- phatguru.com

A unique fashion show, dubbed "Space Couture",
presented winners from a design contest of futuristic fashion in
Japan. "You're going to want to wear something special for that once-
in-a-lifetime event," says Chuck Lauer of Rocketplane Global, an
aerospace firm that plans to offer suborbital tourist flights and
helped to organize a recent space-themed fashion show at Couture
Fashion Week in New York City. - newscientist.com.

Nedret Taciroglu from Turkey made her second
appearance at Couture Fashion Week. Her elegant show was attended by
contingent of diplomats and important personalities from the Turkish
community as well as a host of press and fashion lovers “I have just
discovered a wonderfully talented Turkish designer by the name of
Nedret Taciroglu.” - The Epoch Times

The dramatic "Journey" collection by Andres Aquino
was accessorized by one-of-a-kind matching shoes crafted by British
shoe designer Silvia Campbell. Many of the beautiful jewelry ensembles
used in the show were created by Kenyan-born designer Nasimiyu Wekesa,
whose jewelry has been worn by Christy Turlington, Patti Scialfa
Springsteen and other celebrities. The impeccable hair styling for the
fashion show was done by hair stylist to the stars Federico Calce of
Federico Salon in New York.
“Saturday’s production of Andres Aquino’s couture
show (the man behind the Waldorf-Astoria’s Couture Fashion Week) was
like spending an afternoon in some Viennese majestic courtyard sipping
tea and then a languorous walk over to the wild side with African,
theatrical induced sensibilities…”
–scallywagandvagabond.com

Nina Gleyzer, a native of St. Petersburg, Russia
and a master of couture design, offered a collection of refined and
sophisticated creations inspired by the beauty of nature through a
palette of feminine lines, dramatic colors, and innovative
fabrication. Sushma Patel's return appearance at Couture Fashion Week
featured elegant and fluid feminine designs accented with crystals and
delicate beading.

“Australian designer Cristina Nitopi for the first
time presented an exclusive menswear collection at Fall Couture
Fashion Week. It was nice to see a feminine perspective on menswear.
The tailored, trim cut pants and cropped denim jackets were a revival
from decades past but with just enough modernity to make the
sophisticated, urban guy proud to walk down the street wearing it.”
- diaryofalabellover.typepad.com

The next Couture Fashion Week is scheduled for
September 11-13, 2009 and it is expected to be bigger and better than
ever. The upcoming event will include for the first time The Couture
Fashion Week Ball, a black-tie evening of dinner, dancing and fashion
on Saturday evening.

Couture Fashion Week is a multi-day event
showcasing couture and luxury fashion. It also includes exhibits of
luxury brands and fine art as well as world-class entertainment and
receptions. The event is held in top venues in New York City, Palm
Beach, Florida and other selected cities and is attended by upscale
consumers, invited VIPs, the press and high-end store buyers. Couture
Fashion Week offers unique branding opportunities for luxury products
and services.

Visit the event website for more information:
www.CoutureFashionWeek.com